A couple of late goals from substitutes Anthony Elanga and Fred helped seal a 4-2 win against Leeds United in Premier League action at Elland Road.
Fred put United back into the lead just three minutes after coming off the bench, a big-time tip of the cap to manager Ralf Rangnick who made some key changes to avoid a second-half disappointment.
“It is impossible not to be worried,” Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa said. “We have conceded 50 goals. “Do you think I cannot be worried? How can I not feel responsible?”
Leeds are now in 15th place following the loss, just five points above the relegation zone.
“In the first half we started well and ended well but didn’t manage to score,” Bielsa added. “In the moments we lost dominance they scored. After we got back level, we had the chance to go 3-2 up and straight way they went up and scored again. We played better trying to get back into the game than when we were trying to keep a result, but something has repeated that is difficult to resolve. We have to defend better. We are missing Kalvin Phillips and Robin Koch was substituted and we could not count on Pascal [Struijk] in midfield because he went back into defense. Not being able to come with the three defensive midfielders we have, there is a weakness in the recovery of the ball.”
United’d nine goals against Leeds this season is the most they’ve scored in club history against them. United also have 10 league goals this season from substitutes, more than any other club.
Leeds won the possession battle 54-46, but United finished with nine shots on target vs six for Leeds.
United’s Jadon Sancho won man of the match awards with two assists, three chances created and seven touches in the opposition box.
Sancho has been involved in four goals in his last five games for Manchester United in all competitions (two goals, two assists). That’s twice as many as he was in his first 23 appearances for the club (two goals).
“We had to fight back and stick together; we knew it was a tough place to come but we knew we had qualities and could hurt them,” Manchester United captain Harry Maguire said. “We said at half-time we needed to score more in the second half and we managed to do that.”
United remain in the top four, and are now four points clear of fifth-place West Ham.
“It was perfect in regard to maturity and unity and the best reply they could give to some articles last week that there was disruption in the locker room,” United manager Ralf Rangnick said. “A game like this one today, you can only win as a team and the mentality of a team.”
Leeds are back in action in a mid-week Premier League match against Liverpool on Wednesday (23 February) before they match up with Tottenham next weekend (26 February).
Manchester United will look to build on this momentum next week in UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Leg 1 matchup with Atletico Madrid. They face off with Watford in Premier League action next weekend (Saturday, 26 February).
